Apply to the SPHeRE PhD Programme

There are three modes of application for entry to the SPHeRE Structured PhD Programme:

1. The first mode is for individual applicants who wish to enrol on the Programme as a HRB SPHeRE Funded Scholar (full-time)
2. The second mode is for individual applicants who wish to enrol on the Programme as a Self-Funded scholar (part-time or full-time)
3. The third mode is for individual applicants who wish to enrol on the Programme as an alternatively funded scholar. Information on other Scholarship opportunities is also available in this section.

Funding Bodies (such as charities, philanthropic organisations or employers) or PIs/Supervisors that have funding for a Scholar or a tied bursary (either externally funded or tied to their own institutions) that can fund a Scholar for 4 years can also apply for inclusion of their candidate on the Programme.
No additional fees are payable to the SPHeRE Programme.
Please contact SPHeRE Programme Manager Katherine Walsh at katherinewalsh@rcsi.com for further information.

Mandatory Orientation will take place in person Wednesday 27^th-Friday 29^th September 2023 in RCSI and TCD.

 

 1. Individual applicants: HRB SPHeRE Funded (full-time only)

Individual applicants may apply for entry to the SPHeRE Structured PhD Programme.

Applicants who wish to apply for a SPHeRE funded Scholarship must submit an application form and select their preferred project (or projects). Six scholarships are available for the 2023-2024 academic year. Out of the eight advertised projects, six projects will receive a SPHeRE funded Scholar.
Further details on the projects can be found through the links below.

The chosen projects come under the following project areas:

• Health policy and systems research
• Health service and technology evaluation
• Population health research

Projects are linked to an institution, and so Scholars will be based at the institution to which the project is linked. It will not be possible for Scholars to move a project to their preferred institution

The deadline for SPHeRE funded Scholarship applications is 12 noon Friday 9th June.

Interviews for SPHeRE funded Scholarships will take place on Friday 23rd June via Zoom.

See here for further guidance on applying for a HRB SPHeRE Full-time Scholarship

Apply for a SPHeRE Scholarship

 

Research Projects

 

2.  Individual applicants: Self-Funded Scholar (part-time or full-time)

Individual self-funded applicants, either full-time or part-time, who either do not apply for a HRB SPHeRE Scholarship, or are not successful in receiving one, but are deemed suitable for entry to the SPHeRE Programme may register at any of the nine institutions below where the relevant University registrations and fees are payable.
No additional fees are payable to the SPHeRE Programme.

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
• Trinity College Dublin,
• University College Cork (UCC)
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (MU)
• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
• University College Dublin (UCD)
• University of Galway
• University of Limerick (UL)

The deadline for self-funded applications is 12 noon Friday 9th June.

Interviews for self-funded Scholars will take place on Friday 23rd June via Zoom.

Apply as a Self-Funded Scholar

 

3.  Individual applicants: Alternatively Funded Scholarship

If you wish to apply as an Alternatively Funded Scholar (meaning you already have a source of funding from a workplace, institution etc.) please contact SPHeRE Programme Manager Katherine Walsh at katherinewalsh@rcsi.com

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis for candidates who are alternatively funded.

Alternatively funded scholarships are also available for the projects below. If you are interested in applying for these projects please use the details provided through the links below. Please note that it is possible to apply for both a SPHeRE scholarship and an alternatively funded scholarship (separate applications will be necessary). 

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Project Title: PPI in clinical trials for vulnerable populations

This HRB CRF (Clinical Research Facility) UCC fully funded PhD involves a multi-stakeholder collaboration between CRFC, PPI Ignite Network @ UCC and UCC clinical trial partner(s). The PhD will address conceptual and implementation aspects of PPI in the context of clinical trials. The work will be embedded within one or more ongoing CRF/UCC trials. The PhD will inform ongoing CRFC best practice implementation of PPI in clinical trials for diverse patient population groups, as well as develop the theoretical and PPI implementation competence of the successful PhD Scholar.

The PhD will be supervised by Professor Patricia Kearney, Site Lead PPI Ignite @ UCC and Dr Emmy Racine, Programme Manager, PPI Ignite @ UCC and a lead P.I. on one of the relevant trials.

See here for further information and to apply to the PPI in clinical trials for vulnerable populations project

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Converge: Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research PhD Opportunities

The RCSI School of Population Health is looking to transform the way that population-level data and research platforms
are deployed in Ireland to make key decisions for prevention and reduction of chronic disease burden.

To this end, we are establishing a new research centre Converge: Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research which will attract, inspire and shape the careers of a new generation of leaders, scientists and practitioners engaged in the development of new integrated, population-level models, methodologies and interventions for complex, multimorbidity conditions.

The new Converge: Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research will serve as the coordinating hub for three integrated streams of SFI-funded research:

• An epidemiology and disease burden stream that will develop a novel data ecosystem and execute a series of epidemiologic studies to prioritise the current emerging, and future health priorities in chronic disease and morbidity in Ireland and globally;
• A population implementation and effectiveness stream will develop and use new population registries and integrated data sources to quantify the impact of care and prevention in the real world, taking both an Irish and global perspective;
• A health impact and economic modelling platform will develop novel disease progression model and health impact models to prioritise intervention and risk stratification options.

Three PhD candidates will be recruited to carry out 4-year PhD projects to support each of the three thematic research strands (1 PhD candidates/strand). A fourth PhD candidate will advance a programme of research combining all three strands. All four PhD candidates will be based in RCSI.

These posts will collaborate closely with other world-class institutions and researchers, including Imperial College London, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the WHO, the HSE and other universities within and beyond Ireland.

Successful candidates will enrol on the SPHeRE Programme.

In addition, the SFI-funded scholarships will provide:

• Additional skills training & dissemination allowance (up to €1,500 per year)
• Annual stipend of €18,500 (4 yrs)
• Laptop computer & fees (4 yrs)

Informal enquiries are invited in the first instance through Elaine Healy, Research Manager, School of Population Health, RCSI elainehealy@rcsi.ie

See here for further information

Apply to the Converge: Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research Scholarships here

The closing date for applications is Friday 9th June.

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If you have any questions about the SPHeRE Programme or the application process
please contact sphereprogramme@gmail.com